The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa

  • Army raids militant camp, uncovers human skulls

    Army raids militant camp, uncovers human skulls

    The Nigerian Army says it recovered from militant camp in Omoko, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers, cache of arms and seven decomposed human skulls.

    Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Spokesman of 6 Division in Port Harcourt told newsmen on Tuesday that five males and two females were arrested at the camp.

    Iliyasu alleged that some militants and their fleeing leader, Don Wanny, kidnapped and killed several innocent citizens in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

    The spokesman listed weapons recovered from the camp as two AK 47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun, 18 AK 47 magazines, three FN rifle magazines, 39 7.62mm Nato ammunition and 20 9mm ammunition.

    Others, he said were 7.62 mm ammunition, five Icom and Mag hand-held radios, two 25kg bags of cannabis, nine pairs of military camouflage, 10 human skulls and several bones.

    According to him, the raid is part of renewed strategy by the division to restore law and order in Omoku which has been terrorised by criminals for long.

    “On Monday, we received a tip-off, and thereafter, troops raided the camp and shrines of a notorious militant, cultist, kidnapper and an ardent oil thief popularly known as Don Wanny.

    “After about an hour of gun fight, our troops overpowered the criminal elements due to superior fire power that sent the criminals scampering for safety,” he said.

    Iliyasu said some of the alleged criminals, who sustained gunshot wounds escaped by jumping into Orashi River in the area.

    “However, seven of the suspects including two ladies were arrested, while they attempted to escape in the encounter that occurred at about 2:35 a.m. on Monday.

    “It is believed that the main culprit, Don Wanny was not at the location during the encounter but concerted efforts are on to track, arrest and bring him to justice,” he said.

    Iliyasu thanked residents of the area for cooperating with security agencies and urged them to continue to provide timely information that would lead to arrest of criminals in the state and its environs.

    NAN

  • FRSC threatens to arrest, prosecute drunk drivers in Bayelsa

    FRSC threatens to arrest, prosecute drunk drivers in Bayelsa

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Bayelsa command, has threatened to apprehend and prosecute drunk drivers especially, during the yuletide.

    Mr Ikechukwu Igwe, the state FRSC Sector Commander, who made the threat in an interview in Yenagoa on Monday, said the command had procured equipment to detect liquor from the breathe of motorists.

    “We have gotten machine that we shall be using to detect drunk drivers in order to safeguard lives and property of road users.

    “When we arrest you, you will be prosecuted according to the law; so, avoid driving under the influence of alcohol.

    “Speed limit and over-loading violation are some of the major causes of fatal accidents on the highways,” he said.

    Igwe however, disclosed that the command recorded only eight road crashes between September and October.

    He explained that out of the eight crashes, three were fatal while five were serious.

    “The fatal crashes are those that involved loss of lives while the serious crash is when people have injuries.

    “Though, we thank God, the incidence of crashes has reduced in the state; I must tell you that, so far in the month of November, no accident has been recorded.

    “Yes, we attribute the reduction in road traffic crash to the corps’ improved operations and enforcement of speed limiting device ,” he said.

    Igwe, however commended the activities marking the Africa Road Safety Day/ World Day of remembrance for Road Traffic Victim, saying it was strategic to sensitize the general public on the need for safer road.

    The Road Safety Day held between Nov. 13 and Nov.19, was a global awareness on the road safety issues among stakeholders for prevention of traffic-related injuries and deaths.

    NAN

  • I recruited Dickson for PDP, and there is no rift between us – Jonathan

    I recruited Dickson for PDP, and there is no rift between us – Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that there is no rift between him and Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa contrary to perceptions held by some.

    According to a statement issued by Francis Agbo, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Dickson on Friday in Yenagoa, Jonathan attributed the false news on a political rivalry between the duo to handiwork of mischief makers.

    The statement quoted Jonathan to have gone down memory lane, and recalled how he persuaded Dickson to join the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) while he was the governor of the state between Dec.9, 2005 and May 29, 2007.

    Jonathan in the statement wondered why some people were using politics to create crisis where none existed.

    According to the statement, Jonathan made the clarification in his Otuoke home, during a condolence visit by Dickson to commiserate with him on the death of the Paramount Ruler of Otuoke Community, King Lot Justin Ogiasa.

    Jonathan said, “Let me on behalf of the community thank you for making the visit, because of the relationship we have.

    “You wanted to come immediately, but said it would be a  waste of time for the governor to come when the date for the burial had not been announced.

    “For me politics is a very useless business; when I see the kind of things people write about me on the social media, I just laugh.

    “For Bayelsa State, I feel sad because we are not many and we are not heterogeneous. It is a state that we also know ourselves.

    “I have no reasons to say that I am competing with the governor; by the grace of God, I became Deputy Governor, and later on Governor of Bayelsa  and President of Nigeria.

    “There is no way I can sit anywhere and plan evil against Bayelsa or the governor.

    “When I was dreaming of becoming a governor, Dickson was amongst the very few in the meetings we were holding. Though; he was not in PDP then, but he opted to help.

    “He said he didn’t want to be in the PDP, but I virtually forced him to join PDP.

    “When I became governor, I appointed Dickson the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General and that was how he joined PDP, and later became a member of House of Representatives and so on.

    “There is no way I will break my relationship with the governor.” Jonathan said.

    NAN

  • Tension as military raids Bayelsa community

    There is tension in Peremabiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, following a raid by the military to mop up arms and flush out suspected criminals.

    It was gathered that the military had information that pirates and militants were stockpiling arms in the community.

    Some women earlier protested what they perceived as an invasion, but later accepted the intervention.

    An elderly resident said a team of soldiers stormed his house looking for guns.

    “They surrendered me and asked me to show them where guns were hidden in my house. I told them I had no guns. But they ransacked my house and later left for other places”, the source said.

    There was, however, no information on number of arms recovered or whether or not arrests were made.

    But residents hailed the exercise, commending the Federal Government for coming to free them from suspected notorious criminal gangs in the community.

    Indigenes, under the aegis of Peremabiri Development Association (PDA), in a communique issued after a meeting in Yenagoa, said a notorious gang terrorising the community was led by an ex-militant trying to impose an unpopular man as ruler.

    In the communique reportedly signed by its Chairman, Chief Awolowo Wasiri; Secretary Chief Profit Enoch and Publicity Secretary Alfred Ikiomoye Olotu, thanked the government for earlier arresting and arraigning some suspects.

    They called on security agencies to apprehend criminal elements fleeing the community to permanently resolve the constant unrest in the area.

    PDA explained that the women protesters were forced.

    “We are in support of the routine operation, which took place in our community. Our joy is full because we have been living in bondage for so long. This has affected our lives as we live in fear everyday.

    “The intervention has brought some relaxation in our community as we now move freely. We are excited because if not for the action of the military, they would have imposed an unpopular man as our paramount ruler.

    “We have confidence in the Federal Government and so we appeal to them to go after the rest members of the gang to ensure that they never return to our community. Those women who protested did so because they were forced and not out of any loyalty”.

  • I can’t break my relationship with Dickson – Jonathan

    I can’t break my relationship with Dickson – Jonathan

    Amidst speculation of a rift between him and the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday, said he had never dreamed of breaking his relationship with the governor.

    Jonathan, who spoke when the governor visited his Otuoke courtyard in Ogbia Local Government Area said the rumoured of the rift was the handiwork of troublemakers.

    Dickson led a high-powered state delegation to condole with Jonathan over the death of the Paramount Ruler of Otuoke, HRH King Lord Justin Ogiasa.

    But the duo seized the opportunity to deny the reported existence of a political tussle between them.

    Jonathan, who thanked Dickson for the visit described politics as a useless game saying that some people were using it to create crisis.

    He said: “There is no way I can sit anywhere and plan evil against Bayelsa or the Governor. When I was dreaming of becoming a governor, Dickson was amongst the very few in the meetings we were holding, although he was not in the PDP he opted to help.

    “He said he didn’t want to be in the PDP, but I virtually forced him to join PDP. When I became Governor, I appointed Dickson Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General and that was how he became a PDP and later became a member of House of Representatives and so on. There is no way I will break my relationship with the Governor.”

    On his part Dickson said he is part of the Ogiasa family and by extension, the Otuoke Community of Ogbia Local Government.

    He said: ”We are here in full force as we have always done to commiserate with you, my elder brother, leader and the Ogiasa family in this hour of bereavement. We pray God to grant the Late Ogiasa eternal repose”.

    The Governor, who dispelled rumour of any rift with the former president said, he had come a long way with the Jonathan.

    He said in and out of office, Jonathan would continue to remain his leader and that he would continue to respect him.

    He, therefore, called on those, who wanted to cause imaginary differences between him and Jonathan to sink their plans.

    He said: “Both of us have come a long way. My personal political story cannot be complete without talking about my elder brother, Jonathan. He also knows that I made a little contribution that is recorded in the political chapter of his life.”

    Dickson said he and Jonathan were not running for any office and wondered why political jobbers were bent on destroying their good relationship.

  • Dickson, Sylva clash over violence in Bayelsa

    Dickson, Sylva clash over violence in Bayelsa

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and former governor Timipre Sylva have disagreed over the alleged sponsorship of violence in the state.

    Three persons were injured in Brass Local Government Area at the weekend, when loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) clashed.

    Dickson faulted a claim by Silva’s media office that he was hatching a plot to begin a campaign of calumny against the former governor. He described the allegation as a futile attempt to distract his government.

    The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Daniel Alabrah, said he is too busy with development to take issues with “politicians who failed Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation”.

    He asked Sylva to stop using President Muhammadu Buhari’s name to cover up his criminal activities.

    According to him, being a member of the APC does not give Sylva a licence to sponsor criminal activities to the detriment of peace and security in the state.

    He appealed to security agencies to perform their statutory responsibility, and not allow unscrupulous politicians take advantage of them.

    According to Dickson, Sylva should be concerned that Brass, his local government, had become a den of criminals; he threatened to invoke the law against anyone sabotaging security in the state.

    The statement reads: “The government will not hesitate to invoke the powers of the law against anybody found to have indulged in acts that consistently threaten the peace and security of the state.

    “This government has a mandate to execute on behalf of the people. We cannot be distracted by falsehood emanating from Sylva and his men.

    “Sylva should stop encouraging criminality in Bayelsa; he should support stability and development of his state. We have worked hard to address the insecurity and underdevelopment that Sylva left behind.”

    But Sylva has urged Dickson to face the business of governance rather than engage in a campaign of malicious defamation against him.

    Sylva, in a statement by his media adviser, Doifie Buokoribo, urged residents to discountenance any malicious defamation scheme against him.

    He advised Dickson to be imaginative and pay more attention to alleviating the people’s suffering, rather than taking them down the well-worn path of disparaging him to divert attention from his misrule.

    He said: “We wish to alert Nigerians to the plan by Dickson to launch a structured campaign of calumny against me.

    “We are not surprised, as this is in his character. We witnessed this irresponsible behaviour before, during and after the last governorship election, which he bought.

    “Dickson is living in fear, the fear of Sylva. The governor finds it difficult to come to terms with the fact that despite his shenanigans and schizoid propaganda to diminish me, my political profile continues to rise and rise and rise.

    “Also, Dickson’s paranoia is an attempt to destabilise Sylva’s home community of Brass Island. Already, Dickson has appointed a cretin as Caretaker Committee Chairman to do the dirty job. Last Thursday, this caretaker chairman shot two APC supporters with the help of mercenaries and thugs.

    “It did not end there; he declared a curfew on the Island, a place that has been peaceful.

    Clearly, these actions are meant to provoke me (Sylva). As a man of peace, I have had to restrain my supporters from seeking self-help.”

  • Oil exploration: Ijaw community protests 47 years of neglect

    Oil exploration: Ijaw community protests 47 years of neglect

    The people of Peretorugbene community in Ekeremor council area of Bayelsa state, over the weekend protested what they described as 47 years of neglect by the federal government.

    The community residents, displaying placards with various inscriptions, including “Give us Skills Acquisition Centres in Peretorugbene”, “We need portable drinking water and gas turbine for electricity”, “Buhari give us 100 housing units” and “Give us an access road from Peretorugbene to Ojobo”, said Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) had operated in their community for 47 years, without anything to show as benefit.

    Speaking to newsmen during the protest, a leader of the community, Comrade Bossman Amoda, said though the community appreciates President Muhammadu Buhari for the approval of the pipeline surveillance job for the youths and men of the community, the approval should not be used to substitute the needed development for the community.

    According to him, “in the history of Peretorugbene community, this is the first time such a unique and satisfactory job is coming to our people from the federal government. It is a welcomed development because it will curtail youth restiveness in our community, nut it shouldn’t be seen as a replacement for physical development.

    “Peretorugbene community has been a host community to Shell Petroleum Development Company for over 47 years with the biggest oil manifold in West Africa, which is the Brass Creek Manifold. But you will be surprised to hear that there’s no government presence in our community, despite our large contribution towards the national economy.

    “Up till this present moment, our only source of drinking and cooking water is the river, which has resulted to different kinds of illnesses in our community. We are calling on the federal government for an urgent attention. We need all the aid we can get now,” Amoda said.

  • Bayelsa community bemoans abandonment of road project

    Bayelsa community bemoans abandonment of road project

    Some residents of Polaku community in Bayelsa have expressed dissatisfaction over the abandonment  of the Kolokuma- Sabagriea –Polaku road project by the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ).

    The residents who expressed their feelings in separate interviews in Poluku on Sunday, called for the completion of the road projected.

    The road is mean to link communities in Kolokuma and Opokuma Local Government Areas to Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The Paramount Ruler of Polaku, Chief Barnabas Tarila, said that the project was started over 17 years ago by the NDDC.

    Tarila said that the non completion of the road project had taken a negative toll on the people.

    He said that the abandoned project had made it difficult for communities along the road to realise their economic development potentials.

    An indigene of the community, Oyoro Izon-Owei said the abandonment of the road project had some negative impacts on the socio-economic live of the people.

    Owei said that the people found it difficult to evacuate their farm produce from the area because of lackof good road.

    A human rights activist in the area, Mr. Alagoa Morris, urged the Niger Delta Development Commission to see the completion of the road as a priority.

    Morris said if the Sabagriea-Polaku section of the road had been completed, the traffic gridlock which often occurred between Kaiama and Mbiama on the East-West road would be minimized.

    He said motorists could avoid the bad portion of the east-West road by diverting to the Kolokuma-Polaku road.

    Travelers from Polaku to Yenagoa are now compelled to be ferried across the Taylor Creek, from where they ride on commercial motorcycles to Kaiama, along the East-West road.

    NAN

  • Shell supports Bayelsa youths with N12m start-up capital

    Shell supports Bayelsa youths with N12m start-up capital

    The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Thursday presented a business support grant of N12 million to 30 participants of its youth entrepreneurship scheme.

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Yenagoa, Mr Igo Weli, General Manager, SPDC, said that the company had so far empowered 6, 580 youths from the Niger Delta under the ‘LIVEWIRE’ entrepreneurship programme for youths between age 18 and 35.

    Weli, who was represented by Mr Kiri Obomanu, Head of GMoU Maturation Unit of SPDC, said that the beneficiaries had undergone training in essential business and entrepreneurship management.

    He said that 150 young entrepreneurs participated in the 2017 edition of the Shell LiveWIRE programme in the Niger Delta region.

    According to him, the scheme enables young people to start their own businesses and create employment, rather than seeking for elusive employment opportunities.

    “It provides budding young entrepreneurs with access to the essential business knowledge and customised support they need to transform their enterprising ideas into a viable and sustainable business.

    “LiveWIRE programme is targeted at young people between ages 18-35 to inspire, encourage and support them to start their own businesses or expand existing ones.

    “We do this by providing them requisite training and start up finance.

    “It is hoped that with legitimate alternative means of livelihood, our young men and women will turn their backs on vices,” he said.

    Mr Collins Cocodia, the Bayelsa Commissioner for Youths Development, urged SPDC to strengthen its collaboration with the state government on youth empowerment.

    Cocodia applauded the oil firm for the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity by taking their peers off the employment market.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Bertha Erekosima, whose specialty is on bags and shoe production, commended SPDC for the scheme and pledged to uphold the objectives of the programme and expand their businesses.

    Mr Sapele Lawrence, who specialised in fish farming, said that he would deploy the grant to expand his existing farm.

    “This grant is a welcome development, I have only one pond and have been yearning to expand my ponds, my dream is to have six ponds and this grant will go a long way and I will have to hire more hands.

    “I am also looking at producing fingerlings because here in Bayelsa, we don’t have anyone involved in breeding and fish farmers travel to Delta to get fingerings, so I will further deploy the grant into these areas,” Lawrence said.

  • Shell supports Bayelsa youths with N12m start-up capital

    Shell supports Bayelsa youths with N12m start-up capital

    The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Thursday presented a business support grant of N12 million to 30 participants of its youth entrepreneurship scheme.

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Yenagoa, Mr Igo Weli, General Manager, SPDC, said that the company had so far empowered 6, 580 youths from the Niger Delta under the ‘LIVEWIRE’ entrepreneurship programme for youths between age 18 and 35.

    Weli, who was represented by Mr Kiri Obomanu, Head of GMoU Maturation Unit of SPDC, said that the beneficiaries had undergone training in essential business and entrepreneurship management.

    He said that 150 young entrepreneurs participated in the 2017 edition of the Shell LiveWIRE programme in the Niger Delta region.

    According to him, the scheme enables young people to start their own businesses and create employment, rather than seeking for elusive employment opportunities.

    “It provides budding young entrepreneurs with access to the essential business knowledge and customised support they need to transform their enterprising ideas into a viable and sustainable business.

    “LiveWIRE programme is targeted at young people between ages 18-35 to inspire, encourage and support them to start their own businesses or expand existing ones.

    “We do this by providing them requisite training and start up finance.

    “It is hoped that with legitimate alternative means of livelihood, our young men and women will turn their backs on vices,” he said.

    Mr Collins Cocodia, the Bayelsa Commissioner for Youths Development, urged SPDC to strengthen its collaboration with the state government on youth empowerment.

    Cocodia applauded the oil firm for the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity by taking their peers off the employment market.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Bertha Erekosima, whose specialty is on bags and shoe production, commended SPDC for the scheme and pledged to uphold the objectives of the programme and expand their businesses.

    Mr Sapele Lawrence, who specialised in fish farming, said that he would deploy the grant to expand his existing farm.

    “This grant is a welcome development, I have only one pond and have been yearning to expand my ponds, my dream is to have six ponds and this grant will go a long way and I will have to hire more hands.

    “I am also looking at producing fingerlings because here in Bayelsa, we don’t have anyone involved in breeding and fish farmers travel to Delta to get fingerings, so I will further deploy the grant into these areas,” Lawrence said.

    NAN